Cluster Buster: Class of 2026
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An aspect from an evaluation standpoint our staff will be paying close attention to this spring and summer is taking groups of prospects that are closely ranked with similar skill sets or positions. Evaluating them while deciding who has separated…
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Continue ReadingAn aspect from an evaluation standpoint our staff will be paying close attention to this spring and summer is taking groups of prospects that are closely ranked with similar skill sets or positions. Evaluating them while deciding who has separated themselves from that pack or should move to another group. You hear it a lot in NFL and NBA Draft talks as Cluster Busters! We do our own version of that here in Cluster Busters: Class of 2026!
Marquis Clark Marquis Clark 6'2" | PG Whitney Young | 2026 State IL (Whitney Young) and Rajan Roberts Rajan Roberts 6'2" | PG Kenwood | 2026 State IL (Kenwood)
It is a cluster of two to begin as these two are battling it out for the top PG/combo in the class.
Andre Tyler Andre Tyler 6'4" | SG Simeon | 2026 State IL (Simeon), Lincoln Williams Lincoln Williams 6'5" | SF Kankakee | 2026 State IL (Kankakee), Davon Grant Davon Grant 6'5" | SF Dekalb | 2026 State IL (Dekalb)
Super athletic trio here that are oozing with upside. Tyler and Williams each showed flashes of their immense potential with feathery perimeter scoring and athleticism getting to the cup. Grant shows off his athletic gifts in the paint on massive dunks.
Jaden Schilb (Champaign Centennial), Amir Danforth Amir Danforth 6'1" | SG Rockford Auburn | 2026 State IL (Rockford Auburn), Karson Thomas Karson Thomas 6'4" | SF Lincoln Way East | 2026 State IL (Lincoln Way East), Cameron Mercer Cameron Mercer 6'2" | SG Riverside Brookfield | 2026 State IL (Riverside Brookfield), Mason Lockett IV Mason Lockett IV 6'4" | SG Oswego East | 2026 State IL (Oswego East)
This group of wings are all two guards that bring perimeter scoring, shot making, and athleticism. Would not shock us at all to see one or multiple of these guys jump into the top 10.
JC Anderson JC Anderson 6'7" | C Mt. Zion | 2026 State IL (Mt. Zion), Adam Anwar Adam Anwar 6'7" | PF McHenry | 2026 State IL (McHenry), Pablo Rodriguez Pablo Rodriguez 6'9" | C Chi-Prep | 2026 State IL (Chi-Prep)
Anderson headlines this group of big men after a big sophomore season leading his team to state. He will most likely play football in college. Anwar and Rodriguez have futures in college on the hardwood as face up fours.
Adoni Vasilakis (Benet), Rykan Woo Rykan Woo 6'1" | PG Whitney Young | 2026 State IL (Whitney Young), Jayden Wright Jayden Wright 5'11" | PG Benet | 2026 State IL (Benet), Marshawn Cocroft Marshawn Cocroft 6'0" | PG Aurora Christian | 2026 State IL (Aurora Christian), Zyheir Gardner Zyheir Gardner 6'0" | PG Crete Monee | 2026 State IL (Crete Monee)
All of these point guards can shoot it and score in bunches! Some more than others have better feels for running a team and impacting defensively.
Rocco Pagliocca Rocco Pagliocca 6'1" | PG Stevenson | 2026 State IL (Stevenson), Jayden Riley Riley IL (Yorkville Christian), Amare Pryor Amare Pryor 6'1" | PG Bloom | 2026 State IL (Bloom), Trey Brost Trey Brost 5'10" | PG Bolingbrook | 2026 State IL (Bolingbrook)
Another interesting group of point guards. Pagliocca and Riley Riley IL are more traditional lead guards with their passing and feel. Pryor is a lights out defender while Brost can rain in threes. Which will round out their weaknesses will be at the top in the end.
Sean Lee Sean Lee 6'3" | SF Decatur MacArthur | 2026 State IL (Decatur MacArthur), Cale Maurer Cale Maurer 6'5" | SF Mt. Vernon | 2026 State IL (Mt. Vernon), Larry Harris Larry Harris 6'2" | SG Lincoln Park | 2026 State IL (Lincoln Park), Masen Johnson Masen Johnson 6'2" | SG Jacksonville | 2026 State IL (Jacksonville), Adam Flowers Adam Flowers 6'1" | SG Hinsdale South | 2026 State IL (Hinsdale South), Synceare Simons Synceare Simons 6'3" | SG United Township | 2026 State IL (United Township)
We will call this the under the radar wing group. A lot of names that most fans that follow hoops around the state don’t know yet, but are primed to make major impacts over the next two seasons.
Marquis Goldsmith Marquis Goldsmith 6'4" | PF Rockford East | 2026 State IL (Rockford East), Brody Landgraf Brody Landgraf 6'5" | PF Columbia | 2026 State IL (Columbia), Patrick Irvin Jr Patrick Irvin Jr 6'5" | PF Whitney Young | 2026 State IL (Whitney Young)
Three big men that might be limited in some senses, but what they do well they do very well!
Mikwan Marshall Mikwan Marshall 5'10" | PG Rockford Auburn | 2026 State IL (Rockford Auburn), Colton Hawkins Colton Hawkins 6'2" | PG Carterville | 2026 State IL (Carterville), Tre Watkins Tre Watkins 6'1" | PG Metea Valley | 2026 State IL (Metea Valley), Kyle Cooper Kyle Cooper 6'0" | PG Waltonville | 2026 State IL (Waltonville)
This point guard cluster closes out the rankings. Each has shown they can make impacts at the high school level. Now it is time to show if they can elevate it by showcasing it in front of college coaches.